I’ll post the game preview in the morning. Just one hint…Shady has more than 8 carries and more than 38 yards.

Here are some interesting things to read / watch:

Mark Saltveit, the Oregon hack that I let post articles here, was interviewed by Dave Spadaro for PE.com. Here is the video, if you dare to watch. The problem is that Mark looks just like Brad Pitt…from the scene in Fight Club where he’s been severely beaten. Okay, I’m kidding. He is totally the Fabio of Chip Kelly authors. The interview is good. Mark is the Chip Kelly expert and it is always fun to hear what he has to say.

Man, I seem to catch these, since I’m a night owl. Anyways, going by chinese netizen custom, I claim the sofa.

Anyways, Chipwagon is much, much, nicer than me. Looking at the stills still made me go OMG a few times, because I see that the play is busted, live, but not just how good the opportunities busted were. Anyways, only one point to emphasis here. This has been a recurring issue since the second half of the DC game, and it’s been covered up with good defensive performances. Foles, technically did not quite have this sort of erratic passing in the Giants, Bucs, Packers, Raiders game. But Dallas, and then this stretch. I’m almost intrigued with the mystery of what the issue is, here, if that could be cleaned up.

CrackSammich

To rationalize your thoughts (my day job), it seems as though you see what we all do–things not going well–and assume the worst is the standard. Hey man, we’re all Philly fans. We all know that no lead is enough to prevent a Romo here in Philly, with the train wreck teams we have in every other sport. It almost explains why you fetishize people like Webb, because there’s nobody more popular in Philly than a physically gifted backup (read: hope).

Really, shah, you’re not intrigued as to what the issue is, so much as that you’re trying to not to be the fool that thinks that this iteration of a Philly sport team, this iteration of a Philly quarterback, won’t be the one that makes you think it loves you, breaks your heart, and dumps you at the prom for the hotter guy.

We like Foles because he offers hope. We still think hope is pretty damn awesome. Your cynicism is justified and oh, is it ever warranted, because Flyers, Sixers, and Phillies, but we hate you for shitting on our hope. lighten up bro. Just think of how amazing you’ll look if Joe Webb turns into a stud.

Anders

While I disagree with our overall assessment of Foles (calling him D Anderson clone or saying Webb would be a great QB), but I also curse Foles when he misses a wide open throw.

I have seen one say that some of his obvious misses is due to him dipping his elbow below the shoulder and therefor it is a mechanical issue there can be resolved in the off season.

shah8

Distinctions: Webb is a great QB *prospect*, certainly not a great QB. A looksee as a starter.

Foles doesn’t resemble Derek Anderson–much, weaker arm, better pocket presence, and so on–the comparison to Anderson and Grossman are about their tendencies (on their own initiative or scheme) to throw up wishes. More serious on Foles resemblance to Colt McCoy, in particular, the sort of soft dysfunction that McCoy is representative of. Chipwagon didn’t even hit on the worst passing attempts, just the ones with the biggest opportunities lost. QBs that spike as many plays Foles does (and doesn’t make plays in return) do not typically last long, regardless of the hope and dreams of his fans.

And I’m not a fan of “as long as it work, or the numbers are good” in this case, and Minn game is illustrative. We’re getting points when Lady Luck deigns to give us points, not when we need the points. If it had been 21 or 17 points in the first half instead of nine, the game might have gone differently. We only scored a pair of TDs when Minn was pretty comfortably ahead (and perhaps loosened their defense too son), and then couldn’t really keep up in the fourth quarter at all. We’re having the problems we do because Foles had a number of blown plays while the game was meaningful, and critically, took three drive killing sacks. We don’t seem to be moving the ball outside of big plays, as a result.

And furthermore, Kelly *should* throw. Minn did not actually have a functioning secondary and they did have a decent DL. The Christian who shall not be named had a career day against the other Christian when Minn was similarly bad in the backfield in ’11. No reason Foles couldn’t do the same.

A_T_G

I got a hypothetical for you.

I think we all agree that Foles and Barkley will be back next year. Vick just said he is open to returning as a back up.

So, let’s say Minnesota makes Webb available for minimal considerations, no one we would miss. Would you fill the third QB slot with Webb or Vick?

shah8

And I can’t look at coaches book in the same way, not ever since the abortion that was Charlie Weis’s book The New Gold Standard.

anon

My only issue with the kendricks article us that his problems aren’t scheme based they are fundamental issues, tackling. If you can’t tackle now whatakes you think hell learn? Same issues he’s had since he came.

shah8

Would you rather have Cheney, Rolle? I suppose we could have gotten Wagner or David instead of Kendricks, but especially in the case of Wagner or Burfict, I don’t see how coaching hasn’t been a great success with them. Marvin and Pete have great staffs that consistently gets their picks to reach their talent level. We don’t necessarily do that. Check how SF gets Eric Reid while Dallas gets Frederick, and how much benefit both teams got from that trade–good teams do tend to be good because they make sensible picks and they don’t forget to coach the players they pick! That’s why you see the Oakland Raiders stay up high, going for wierdo picks like Hayden (well, not that weird) instead of the person they should have gotten, Star. Meanwhile, Carolina’s all giggly and stuff because a big, fat, star just dropped into their laps, no work needed.

Look, think about how well we’ve trained LBs since JJ went to the great gridiron in the sky. We’ve had some effort devoted to it since Trotter wound down (not that last hurrah in ’09, of course). We’ve had a lot of turnover at various spots, and only gotten stability because we poached 4-3 talent out of the then new 3-4 Texans D, already trained. Looking at at most of these LB/S drafts, the majority of them have real issues taking angles and making sure tackles. The good ones at the top of the draft, like Kuechly, are granted, generally, but few really get good at tackling right away.

Anders

So much truth in this post.

100% agree with the Wagner or Burfict vs Kendricks on how much coaching matters. It is the same arguement I always use on Nate Allen vs Earl Thomas.

Also most college safeties and LBs do not have to tackle well because they are often faster or bigger and therefor can get away with just hitting instead of form tackling.

Kendricks biggest problem is learning to play under control, as in going full speed but still take the right angle towards the football or keep outside contain (I hate when a see a LB or safety over pursue towards the sideline and the RB/WR can then just cut inside instead of using the sideline as help.

GEAGLE

Those kids been in the same scheme for two years….Kendricks has been used in 15 different ways in two years….if we could redraft, I would see no reason to take wags or Burfict over Mykal…had we drafted them and put them in our dysfunctional situation, they would have struggled like Kendrick…..the kid will be fine people do not need to be worrying about that kid..,
…
Give him some continuity, and Meco and Minter will turn him int a stud

Anders

Because he haven’t had the time to focus on the little things? Also look at Allen at proof that guys can still learn and improve after first two years

theycallmerob

I think this was in the article, but part of the argument re: his fundamentals is that the coaches have not had time to properly address them since all he is learning is scheme, scheme, scheme. Been through plenty of schemes, position coaches, and DCs already.
Once he’s comfortable with his role in the D, the idea is that (1) the game will slow down for him (you hear this from rookies–>2nd year guys all the time), and also (2) coaches will have more time to improve him, rather than just teach him
I would imagine that by 8-10 games in next year, barring any major changes or injury, we’ll have a much better idea as to the caliber of player he is and can become

CrackSammich

Kendricks is one of the most physically gifted players I’ve paid attention to that so frequently fails he eye test. He;s not beyond fixing, but how long is it worth waiting for.

Anders

He has played 14 games in this scheme. How impatient are we?

GEAGLE

Ridiculous ain’t it? Actually his past 4 games or so Kendricks has played really well…..He is one player, I have no doubts will grow into a BALLER

Anders

Something interesting from that Kelly breakdown. He consider 35 yard line the edge of FG. That is a 53 yard FG and that seems pretty normal for me as far as what coaches normally think is FG, so there is nothing in what Kelly said that makes one think he do not trust Henery’s leg.

Gary

Ehh, he said the edge of range is the 33 to 35 yard line and with no weather or anything. That means a 50- to 52-yarder (51-53 if you add 18 yards) is the longest the coaches are comfortable having Henery try, and that’s in perfect conditions. I expect more from a kicker in today’s NFL (I normally hate when people say “in today’s NFL,” but kickers really are kicking it farther than ever).

Anders

The success rate of a FG from 35 yard line (aka 53) is 50% and it dips off very quick from there.
Henery in a super small sample size is 40% from 50+ and that is with a few 60 yard tries.

Henery is the classic case of people having a perception that he is bad (and it not helped by certain people on twitter) and therefor a large portion of the fanbase thinks he is bad.
It is of course not helped that fans often only see the highlight long kick from another kicker and assume that other kickers are nailing 60 yard FGs all the time.

Gary

I don’t think he’s necessarily bad. That’s not what I’m saying. But I do believe he has below average leg strength, the coaches know that, and that’s why he’s rarely trusted to attempt 50+ yarders. I believe that’s also why he wasn’t trusted to kick it out of the back of the end zone in a dome against Minnesota. What results is the small sample size of long field goal attempts that you mentioned. There would have been plenty of opportunities for him to show off his leg strength over three years (and with two different coaching regimes) if his coaches believed in him, and I think it’s just not there.

Anders

I do not buy the leg strength one bit. Henery had no troubles with hitting 50+ FGs in college.

AR never believed in a long FGs and it seems Kelly is not really a believer in it too much either.
Also couple that with 2012 where the team almost always seemed to fumble if they crossed mid field and now a coach who will often go for it on 4th down instead (math says you should almost always go for it on 4th instead of kicking 50+ FGs anyway)

Gary

Time will tell. Don’t think Henery is terrible by any means, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they at least brought in competition for him next year. He is plenty upgradable in my opinion.

Anders

Agree we need to bring in competition, but there is seriously some Eagles fans who think he blows.

mheil

I believe kelly said he wasn’t kicking the ball out of the end zone in warmups, so that is when he made the final decision on kickoffs. His decision that Patterson was too good for his coverage team contradicted his philosophy of respect all, but fear none. it showed a ton of fear of Patterson.

A Roy

To my thinking, Henery is incredibly average. That’s significantly less than what I’d want from a 4th round selection.

Anders

But we are not talking about if he was worth the selection, but if he is good enough. Also remember quite often a 4th round selection gets you nothing better than Casey Matthews

A Roy

My first statement still applies. He’s average. Regardless of where we drafted him. The fact we spent a 4th rounder on him simply means we overpaid for average. If you want average, fine. I think he needs to get better or we need to find someone who is.

Anders

I agree that I think we need competition for him next year.

I had no problem drafting him in the 4th when we did. Henery is one of the best college kickers of all time and had no problems booming long clutch kicks.

GEAGLE

Yeah, you saw last nights segment where he was talking about what he considers the redzone?

GEAGLE

Getting really fed up with Spadaro

A Roy

Haven’t bothered w/Spads & Co since Tommy and 24/7 went live.

P_P_K

Same here. Spads is too muchof a propaganda machine.

ICDogg

I like Spuds. But he is, when all is said and done, an employee of the Eagles, so don’t expect objective journalism.

GEAGLE

For those that haven’t heard it, I suggest heading over to PE and listening to Kyle longs conference call talking about Chip

NinjaP

I actually think Mychal gets more of a bum wrap then he deserves. Maybe the most polarizing player on the roster.

McNabbulousness

Tommy Lawlor, more like Tommy “Snake Oil Salesman” Lawlor. Clicked the Kendricks link and did my IQ go up 37pts? No, I still burnt my hand in the toaster. Damn you Lawlor.

As for Michael with a “y,” im with you. Just like the entire defense this year it’s at time frustrating to watch. But you gotta be pumped about the upside/development aspect.

P_P_K

I also clicked the link. Maybe if we combine our brains we can total an IQ of 37.

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